Texas Tech Football: 2014 signing class brings competition at QB

The 2014 signing class for the Texas Tech football team consisted of 25 recruits, both high school signees and junior college transfers with a plethora of talent, including one standout who could reshape the Red Raiders’ offense.

The defense added 15 players, with some looking at immediate playing time. Perhaps the biggest surprise was cornerback Nigel Bethel. Bethel was believed to be committed to the University of Miami, but in an unexpected move announced his intentions to play for Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. Bethel is one of the best athletes in this year’s recruiting class. Don’t be surprised to see him competing for a starting position.

On offense, the Red Raiders brought in 13 offensive players, including running back Justin Stockton and a Wes-Welker-like slot receiver, Ian Sadler. The Red Raiders also bulked up the offensive line, adding five new members including the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Shaquille Davis.

Kingsbury’s most prized recruit is Patrick Mahomes from Whitehouse, Texas. One of the best quarterbacks in the state, Mahomes signed his letter of intent with Tech on Feb. 5.

Patrick Mahomes(Photo credit:Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Simply put, Mahomes is a play maker.

With a cannon for an arm and the ability to scramble, Mahomes is a formidable threat for defenses. He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs about 200 pounds. The son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Mahomes gives the Red Raiders the one thing they were lacking at the quarterback position: options.

In his first year at quarterback, Davis Webb proved he could get the job done in Kingsbury’s offense. He split starts with fellow true freshman Baker Mayfield throughout the year and still threw for 20 touchdowns.

After Webb’s spectacular bowl performance and Mayfield’s decision to transfer, Webb found himself atop of the roster by himself.

The spot is his to lose but Mahomes may have an edge on athleticism and eventually he seems destined to become the starter in Raider Land.

With spring ball right around the corner, it will certainly be interesting to see how the battle between Webb and Mahomes plays out. Kingsbury certainly won’t hesitate to start a true freshman, in fact after Maziel and his newest product Webb, who’s to say Mahomes couldn’t be his third? Both Webb and Mahomes could see playing time. However if Mahomes shows more potential than Webb, Kingsbury wouldn’t think twice about pulling the trigger on the young gun freshman.

Regardless off who wins the job, Texas Tech has added depth to a young stacked rooster and taken another step towards competing for a Big 12 title.

About Daniel Steffy

After the recent spur of quarterbacks transferring out of the Texas Tech football program, Patrick Mahomes is almost guaranteed to be the number two QB on Tech’s 2014 roster. However, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Kliff Kingsbury has expressed concern about Mahomes being drafted into the MLB.